The Southeast Missourian reported that the charge stems from the Oct. 23 death of 80-year-old Patricia Joan Langston. The probable cause statement said the coroner ordered an autopsy after finding dead and alive maggots in bedsores on Langston's back.

The autopsy showed that Langston died as a result of a sepsis infection in the bedsores. It also described multiple skin breakdowns and ulcers and said they can develop when patients aren't repositioned frequently enough.

Coomer cared for Langston in her Cape Girardeau home full time. Coomer told investigators she never noticed bedsores on her patient.